Thread: Is a Home Inspection Worth It?

1) A home inspection allows a 3rd party to evaluate the property and allow the buyer to make a better educated decision on the condition of the property. Otherwise the buyer would have to rely on the disclosures brought forth by the seller and both agents ie. transfer disclosure statement and agent visual inspection (CAR)

2) 100% always advise the buyer to hire a licensed home inspector. I even recommend giving 3-4 names to the buyer and let them select which company. I have always felt the home inspection was the best money spent in a home purchase and allows a basis for negotiating repairs and or credits.

I think Kevin really provided an excellent answer to both questions but I would like to add:

1) The value added by the inspection is really a value to the buyer. Sometimes there are defects that only an inspector will find.

2) I always always recommend an inspection.

Home inspection is the essential part of any case when you sell your house. As we need an independent person to have a look at your house and give it the right price or description.

Even though the seller is supposed to disclose all known defects, the problem is that many home sellers have no clue what's wrong with their homes.

I can count the number of sellers who've ever visited their attics and know the mess that's up there.

Many homes have broken tiles or roof problems that are not visible and only a professional can point them out.

I've only allowed one buyer to go without an inspection and that's because they decided to do it themselves since they had construction experience and knew what they were looking for.

Unless you have the same I would always recommend you get a home inspector. Usually the best ones have some sort of experience with remodeling homes.

Hope that helps

I agree with all the above. The home inspection, when done right, will hopefully catch anything the owner doesn't know about/ wasn't disclosing. I recommend all my clients get a home inspection. I've even seen cases were problems were discovered via home inspection on houses that were virtually brand new. Better safe then sorry!

Good result of the inspection may lead to a good house reputation,means good quality and good price to deal with.

Honestly in wisconsin and illinois, my inlaws have bout 3 different homes and each time the home inspector has said nothing is wrong.
House 1 100% pass nothing wrong... Needed all new flooring and subflooring in kitchen and dining room, it had cloth electrical wires, 3 electrical boxes that were not up to code and a couple other things....
This guy was rated the best in chicago in 1994!!!!!

House 2 99% inspection pass (Recommended new roof in 15 years).... Wrong again, all outside (wood paneled siding) siding is rotted and needs replacing, kitchen floor was tiled incorrectly and now all tile is cracking, addition of 3 season porch was added against city code before they bought it, AC did not work, electrical was set to use 100 amps of service when it really needed 200 amps and kept blowing the main breaker, ALL air-ducts were clogged, roof needs replacement after 2 years of owning house, all wood window frames are rotted and started falling off the house in year 1 of the house, roof vents were just nailed on (they weren't doing anything).... the list goes on

So bad experiences so just get the home warranty, and get a good handyman or someone that knows what to look for. Our realtor knows what to look for and so do I... I am just getting the home warranty...

Also, if you get the home warranty and inspection....
Heed my warning, if the inspector signs off saying everything is ok your warranty is pretty much garbage!!!! (or at least that is what happened to my inlaws!!)

Thanks a lot for posting. I enjoy reading your responses because everything you said will help me on my research about property rights and inspections. Your ideas are really helpful to me. I will surely forward this to my friends.

Always always get an inspection, work with a licensed inspector!
I think this is not negotiable for a buyer, imagine you are going to invest that much money in to this home, you have to know what is going on with it. It is like buying an expensive car without driving, or buying an expensive dress with out trying it.

You can choose whoever you want, I want my client to have the best!

Hope it helps